Martin Keown

Martin Keown defended like an argument that refused to end. Fierce, concentrated and psychologically relentless, he was not only trying to stop forwards, he was trying to make them regret choosing the profession. His game was built on marking, aggression, anticipation and that old Arsenal discipline where the back line moved like a single locked mechanism. He was not as elegant as Tony Adams, nor as naturally smooth as Sol Campbell, but he had intensity, reading and an almost obsessive appetite for duels. Under Wenger, he adapted well enough to a more athletic and modern defensive rhythm, using experience and timing to stay relevant at the highest level. For England, he remained a dependable squad figure, trusted for seriousness and defensive edge. A stopper with brains, bite and nerves made of barbed wire.